192: Fog in the forest

Fog in the forest

4As the rest of the group continued to mount their horses, some had already decided who they wanted for their riding companions. Meanwhile, the remaining men and women paired up with each other randomly. 

"Why didn't you go with Prince Charming, Ardolf?" Raylen asked Emily. 

"I didn't see the point when I know how to ride my own horse," Emily replied, lifting her chin, which brought a hint of amusement to the Storm King's eyes. 

"Showing off that you are the better rider?" Raylen asked her, and Emily's eyes moved back to meet his gaze. 

"In that sense, all men like to show off," Emily responded to his words. 

"Believe it or not, they do. They want to catch the fair maiden's hand, but it seems the fair maiden likes to swat away anything that comes near her." Raylen's clever blue eyes locked onto hers. He continued, "Poor lads, they will need to work harder. Keeping yourself in a tower, waiting for the men to slay the dragon and whatnot, all before they find you. You cruel dragon murderer," he added with a grin. 

Emily rolled her eyes at him and replied softly, "I don't expect them to fight dragons, nor am I locked in a tower," although the idea sounded appealing to her. She secretly longed to be desired, to have men fight for her, without becoming disheartened or turning away from her, she thought to herself. She wasn't asking for much. 

"Princess," Raylen called her, and when her eyes met his, he said, "It seems like you have inherited your grandmother's spirit, but you don't know how to wield it. Some cards are uniquely held by women, but you are playing the cards of men."

Before Emily could question him, Raylen moved past her and made his way to the front, while Beatrice brought her horse next to him, leaving Emily to be flanked by Julius Ardolf and Marshall Travis on either side. 

Mr. Ruiz snapped his fingers, and the servants, each holding a scroll, approached the riders to give them their instructions. He explained, "These scrolls contain clues to your quest. Remember, you have an hour and a half before the game ends, at which point, you are to return here. We hope this will be a memorable event for all of you, and that you enjoy it to the fullest."

The man then raised a gun to the sky and fired it, announcing, "The hunt begins now!"

The gunshot echoed around the area, and most of the participants hastily opened the scrolls in their hands. After reading the instructions, they spurred their horses into action and galloped into the forest. This included Marshall, who was determined to win Emily's hand since he had set his sights on her. 

Emily unfurled the scroll and read its contents—

'Clue 1. I call you every hour of the day, with each passing second, my abode lighter than wood. Come look for me as I sing, a clue you may believe lies within my treasure, but it is not where I conceal it.'

Emily thought about it for a moment before whispering, "I know the answer!" A smile swiftly appeared on her lips, and she noticed Mr. Ardolf was riding beside her, looking over at her. 

"I was waiting for you…" Mr. Ardolf looked slightly pink, clearly unsure of the solution. 

"We should go search for the bird, Mr. Ardolf," Emily said, "The clue speaks of a cuckoo. It is what resides inside the clock, within the clock housing its home." 

The man's head bobbed up and down. "So it was the cuckoo. You are a smart woman," he praised her. 

When Emily turned, she noticed Raylen had already left and went ahead. He had taken the lead! She said, "We should go look for it where it sings." 

Soon, Emily and Julius galloped through the woods, and she realised how different it felt to ride a horse in this wooded terrain compared to the endless sands back home. Under the cloudy sky, the cool wind whipped against them as they sped among the trees, the rhythmic beat of their horses' hooves making splattering sounds against the wet ground. 

"Have you been to this place before, Mr. Ardolf?" Emily inquired, hoping his familiarity might help in finding the next clue. 

"Unfortunately, no, milady. My work has not allowed me the chance to explore these woods, except for some occasional tea inside the mansion," Mr. Ardolf replied. Then, looking at her with a friendly smile, he added, "You may call me Julius, Lady Emily. Please," as if to let her know that he wanted to foster a closer connection between them, especially since the other men had gone in search of the treasure to present it to her. 

"Julius," Emily replied, acknowledging his request, but she didn't offer him permission to address her without her title. 

But Julius didn't seem to mind it, or he didn't pay attention to it, as he was enthralled by her beauty. He noticed her words were true—that she managed herself on the horse as if she had years of experience. As they searched for the cuckoo, he asked, 

"When did you learn to ride, milady?" 

"I learned when I was twelve. My father gifted me a horse, and I still have her with me. Sky," Emily spoke fondly about her horse. "How about you?" 

Julius shared, "I first rode a horse when I was eight. However, after my father passed away, we had to give it away as times became tough and my mother had a hard time making ends meet. She worked everywhere she could to provide for us, and she's the one who raised me on my own." He smiled, adding, "Fortunately, things have gotten better over the years. Since I started working, we now have our own home."

Emily was touched by Julius's words, and she responded, "I am glad to hear things have improved for you and your mother. She must be a strong woman to be able to overcome such challenges."

"Indeed, she is," Julius replied, returning Emily's smile with his own. Then he turned his head to the right and remarked, "I believe I heard the bird in this direction."

[Music Recommendation: Enclosed Forest - Michael Ghelfi]

Emily galloped on her horse, keeping pace with Julius, when, out of the corner of her eye, she had the fleeting sensation of passing someone standing to her side. Her horse slowed down, but Julius, caught up in the excitement, did not look back. Emily turned to see what had caught her attention, but there was no one there except for the trees. It was then that she realised that the ground was covered in a light fog that continued to thicken until she heard nothing but silence all around her. 

"Julius?" Emily called his name, but all she received in response was the soft, cold wind blowing through the fog-covered grounds and the eerie silence that enveloped the atmosphere. 

Her eyes strained to see what lay ahead, while her ears caught the distant sounds of birds chirping, but it was the cawing of crows that sent a shiver down her spine. It sounded ominous. This was not part of the treasure hunt, was it? Emily asked herself. As if the cold weather wasn't enough, the eeriness of the place brought goosebumps to her arms, and she pulled the shawl of her dress tighter to cover them. 

"MR. ARDOLF?" Emily shouted his name, but her voice only echoed briefly before being swallowed by the thick fog. 

Emily wondered where the others were or if they had encountered the same fog. Something seemed to have frightened her horse in the misty atmosphere, causing it to rear up and throw her to the ground before galloping away. As the fog thickened, the world around her began to darken. 

As she cautiously began to walk, it felt as if something was trailing her, and she pulled out a dagger that she habitually kept strapped to her leg. Past experience had taught her the importance of being prepared for unexpected situations like this.

Far away from where Emily struggled to find her way back or encounter someone familiar on her way, the other participants in the hunt grew increasingly alarmed at the density of the fog. Janelle anxiously inquired, 

"Is this forest always so foggy?" 

"I don't think so," the man with her replied.

Janelle remarked, "I don't think it will be easy to find the clues for the hunt."

They heard a couple more sets of hooves approaching, and one of the guests asked, "What is with the fog?" 

"It makes me worried," a woman remarked, and just then, they heard a crow caw, startling one of them. A woman fell from her horse with a shriek. 

Raylen jumped from his horse and helped the woman remount hers. 

"King Raylen, is it because of the impending rain?" Beatrice inquired, having followed closely behind him until now. 

It wasn't the rain, Raylen thought to himself. Despite his attempts to disperse it, the fog was too dense to blow away, almost as though it weren't a natural occurrence, but was intentionally conjured. He replied, "That must be it. It would be better for everyone to return to the mansion. Continuing the hunt would not be safe."

A murmur of agreement rippled through them as the chill only intensified, causing them to shiver. 

However, before departing, Raylen asked, "Is everyone present here?" A faint chorus of responses followed. 

Julius reported in a tense tone, "Lady Emily isn't with me. I don't know when she lagged behind, but by the time I realised, I couldn't find her." 

The princess, Raylen thought. 

Julius volunteered, "Let me go and find your niece, King Raylen. I will be sure to bring her back safely to your side."

"Allow me, King Raylen," men began to chime in, jumping at the opportunity to be seen as heroic in his eyes. 

"Very generous of you, gentleman, but it is with great sadness that I must decline. I don't trust anyone but myself to find her, as I cannot leave her unchaperoned," said Raylen, speaking with continued sweetness in his voice. 

Marshall was insistent and said, "My King, please allow me to accompany you." 

"Do you think I am incompetent, boy?" Raylen inquired with a smile, his face concealed by the fog. 

"N—no, I did not mean that, King Raylen. Please forgive me!" Marshall hastily apologised. 

"Ardolf will lead all of you back to the mansion," Raylen decided, then turned to the side and added, "You too, Beatrice."

Once they departed from the area, heading back to the mansion, Raylen's pupils sharpened into slits, and he could immediately tell that the forest was not the source of the fog. The last time he had experienced such fog was several decades ago in Hell. He attempted to pick up Emily's heartbeat but couldn't detect it. 

He snapped his fingers, and suddenly, an imp materialised before him. The imp had smaller eyes and was far more wrinkled than the imp serving Dante.

"Milord," the imp bowed with great solemnity. 

"How is the portal of summons looking, Balor?" Raylen questioned his imp. 

"Tight as ever, Master." The imp then noticed the fog around them and said, "There hasn't been any sign of a breach, and if there was, I would have known. It looks like a higher demon's doing."

"Keep an eye on the forest and observe anyone who leaves this place," Raylen ordered the imp, who obediently bowed and vanished from sight. Now, the question remained: where was the princess?

Emily, on the other hand, was walking in circles. Having never been inside this forest before, with the dense fog obscuring her view and her horse nowhere to be seen, there was very little she could do. She called out names, but there was no response. The profound silence that surrounded her was unexpected and sent shivers down her spine, making her skin crawl. 

It triggered memories from her past. 

'Come, Emily, let me show you how to play.'

'You press the tip of the knife right here, and push it.' A boy's scream echoed in her head, the sound louder than usual. 

Emily covered her ears, as if hoping it would silence the screams, and strangely, they did stop. She continued to walk, hoping she would reach the edge of the forest, unaware that the forest stretched far beyond what she could cover by foot in a single day. She pondered where everyone had disappeared to when the cawing of the crows caught her attention again. 

As the sound of the crows reached her ears, she also heard something snapping not too far from where she was, and her heart started to race at the unsettling possibility of what it might be. She hurriedly moved farther away from the source of the sound, but it was as though something was following her, lurking right behind her. 

[Music Recommendation: Visions of Gideon - Sufjan Stevens]

"EMILY!" 

Emily heard Raylen's voice calling out from a distance, filling her with immense relief. She quickly responded, "I am here! I think there is someone else here!" alerting him to the possible danger. 

"Stay right where you are," Raylen instructed her, and Emily nodded, even though he couldn't see her. When her leg slightly moved back, she heard something echo behind her. 

In less than a second, an enormous fire erupted from the ground, burning everything it touched in its way. With a brightness that rivalled the sun, it dispelled the fog and vanished the darkness. Emily caught sight of Raylen standing some distance across from her as the searing heat conquered the cold air hanging around them. 

Raylen noticed the frightened expression on Emily's face, her fear about being lost evident. She stood on the edge of a well clutching a dagger. The trees and surrounding vegetation swiftly ignited, their embers ascending into the air like fireflies. It was the first time he had seen her this scared, as if she were a fragile porcelain doll that would break if he were late. 

Screeches pierced the air, causing Emily to break her gaze away from Raylen to look at something small and cloaked behind the trees. It emitted a shrill scream before vanishing into thin air. 

"Step forward," Raylen instructed her. 

Emily frowned, her foot involuntarily moved backwards, and Raylen's eyes narrowed. Before she could fully comprehend her surroundings, she noticed the dark well. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before her and swiftly pulled her by the shawl wrapped around her arms. 

"For fuck's sake, can you, for once, listen to what I say?" Raylen demanded in exasperation. 

Emily could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her fear almost causing her to stumble into the well behind her. In response to Raylen's frustrated words, she retorted, "Step forward. Would 'there's a well behind you' have been too much to say?" She then added softly, "Thank you for finding me..." 

She noticed Raylen gazing at her with a curious expression, and he didn't immediately release her shawl, as if contemplating whether to pull it tighter or release his grip on it. 

"If I were to let go, would anyone come to find you, Princess?" Raylen asked in a calm voice, causing Emily to look back with concern. 

"If you had wanted me dead, you wouldn't have come here," Emily stated, although she wasn't entirely sure about it. Raylen… his actions could be unexpected. "My brother and my family would be very unhappy. Grandmother would have the Devil on your tail." 

Raylen's head tilted to the side before he said, "I wasn't aware your family had such a close connection with the Devil. She must be preparing for her next spot after all the things she has done here." With that, he pulled her away from the well, adding, "My little amusement will die if you were gone. Besides, there's no point killing someone who is already dying."

When Emily balanced herself, Raylen's words caught her off guard. She asked him, "What were those things that burned over there?" 

"Bugs," Raylen replied, looking at the nearby trees that were still burning. "Bugs of death. They are attracted to bodies that are nearing death. They try to latch on to the host, waiting for the soul to depart. Normally, these bugs can't be seen with the naked eye, except for a few—"

"I am not dying!" Emily exclaimed, laughing at Raylen's attempted joke. However, when he turned to meet her eyes, his gaze was serious. Her hands grew cold, and she uttered, "That can't be possible…"

"You were once an archdemon's soulmate, and though that connection is no more, it has initiated the decay of your soul," Raylen explained to her. 

"Oh, God," Emily muttered, wondering if she had attracted all the bad luck possible. Left without a soulmate, she had expected something like this might happen, but she didn't anticipate receiving confirmation of it. In truth, she didn't need to know. 

A crackling sound echoed around them, and Raylen's imp appeared. 

"What did you find out, Balor?" Raylen questioned it.

"There is a crack in the barrier near the port," the imp informed its master. "It is being guarded now." 

"You can go," Raylen dismissed the imp, which transformed into smoke and vanished from their sight. He then turned to Emily and said, "Let us get you back to where everyone else is." 

Emily didn't want to die; she wanted to live a long, happy life. She wondered whether, if she were to die, the haunting dreams that plagued her would persist. She followed Raylen back to where the horse was patiently waiting. He took hold of the saddle, and with a single fluid motion, he mounted the horse before turning his gaze towards her. 

"Come on, Princess." 

Emily looked up to meet Raylen's outstretched hand with a hesitant glance. Recognising she had little choice, she gingerly placed her hand in his before mounting the horse... 

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